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Illinois Public Media

Full Upright and Locked Position: Not-So-Comfortable Truths About Air Travel Today

Former Chief Counsel to the Federal Aviation Administration Mark Gerchick writes in his new book that air travel, while once glamorous, has been reduced to “an uncomfortable, crowded and utterly soulless ordeal to be avoided whenever possible.” Do you agree?

This hour on Focus, Chris Berube talks with Gerchick about the behind the scenes details of air travel. He’ll tell us about how the industry has changed since 9/11 and will talk with Chris about why flying first class keeps getting classier while flying economy seems to get more miserable all the time. We’ll also talk with Gerchick about safety; while the act of flying has really never been safer, pilots, like just about anybody else, are overworked and flying with equipment that is sometimes outdated.

Do you have questions about what happens on planes? Focus producer Lindsey Moon was horrified to find out that any humidity inside an airplane is entirely comprised of fluid from the humans on board…sweat and breathing moisture. Tweet us @Focus580, find us on Facebook or post in the comments section below.